Gear-driven machine for affixing postal stamps and insurance-stamps.



7 F. 1.01m. GEAR DRIVEN MACHINE FOR AFFIXING POSTAL STAMPS AND INSURANCESTAMPS.

' APPLICATION. FILED NOV. 13, I914. I I I 1, 174,5 62. Patented Mar. 7,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l- I 83 I 8 78 81' A}? S 3 s 1 mm M tILGSS QS z Ijnvanfor.

THE COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH .cim, WASHINGTON, n. C.

. F. J. GILL.

GEAR DRIVEN MACHINE FOR AFFIXING POSTAL STAMPS AND INSURANCE STAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-13,19I4.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2 jlivalltor'.

fledw/c/z 7. 4/ 7/ THE COLUMBlA PLANDGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON. D. c.

F. J. GILL.

GEAR DRIVEN MACHINE FOR AFFIXING POSTAL STAMPS AND INSURANCE STAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3, I914.

1 174,562. Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ms COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPfl 530., WASHINGTON, D. :4

F. J. GILL.

GEAR DRIVEN MACHINE FOR AFFIXING POSTAL STAMPS AND INSURANCE STAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1914. 1,174,562.

Patented Mar. 7,1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

'HUQlLtOL.

E'ea/ervc /c. .7. 6777 THE COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON, D. c.

F. J. GILL.

GEAR DRIVEN MACHINE FOR AFFIXING POSTAL STAMPS AND INSURANCE STAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1914.

1,174,562. Patentd Mar. 7,1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5- THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII c0. WASHINGTON, D. c.

determined periods.

.eflicient in its action.

ran sa as ra FREDERICK J OI-IN'GILL, 0F SMETHWICK, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND,ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO THOMAS W'ALTON, OF TIP'ION, ENGLAND.

GEAR-DRIVEN MACHINE FOR AFFIXING POSTAL STAMPS AND INSURANCE-STAMIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

Application filed November 13, 1914. Serial No. 872,038.

To all whomc't may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK JOHN GILL, subject of the King of GreatBritian, resid: ing at 27 Dunsford road, Bearwood, Smethwick,Birmingham, in the county of lVarwick, England, have invented a new anduseful Improved Gear-Driven Machine for Aflixing Postal Stamps andInsurance- Stamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to an improved gear driven machine for affixingpostage or insurance stamps. y y

The object of the invention is to construct a machine which shall bepositive, simple and The stamps are fed from a roll from which they areseparated by means of a knife, the envelop or other missive to which thestamp is to be aflixed is then moistened and the severed stamp isafiixed to the letter or the like by means of pressure on the top andunder surfacesof the missive.

In combination with the machine I may employ a coin operating mechanismwhich controls the operation of the machine, and a further feature ofthe invention is the addition of an adjustable stop plate by which theposition of the envelop or the like is adjusted so that two or morestamps can be aiiixed side by side in the correct position, andpreferably I also employ a mechanism for automatically counting thenumber of stamps issued by the machine.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation lookingat the back of a coin operated machine constructed in accordance withthis invention. Fig. 2 is a' section on line X X of Fig. 1, illustratingthe operating mechanism and gearing. Fig. 3 is a section on line Y Y ofFig. 1, illustrating the stamp feeding, controlling and aiiixingmechanism. Fig. 1 is a section on line Z Z of Fig. 1. illustrating adetail which is not seen in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line Z Z ofFig. 3. Fig. 6 is a section on line A A of F ig. 3, illustrating theaction of the knife. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the counter actuatingmechanism employed in conjunction with this invention, together with themeans for closing the coin slot at Fig. 8 is a plan of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 isan end view of part of the mechanism shown at Fig. 7 and Fig. 10

illustrates part of the mechanism seen in end to the frame by a screw orpin 3. At-

tached to the lower end of the hand lever 1 is a coin receiving bucket 4which moves with the hand lever. Normally the hand lever is disposed inthe position seen in the drawings in which position a coin contained inthe bucket 4 would be seen through a window 5' formed in the side frame2 for the purpose of affording visible detection of false coins or forother purposes, this position of the coin 5 is seen dotted in Fig. 2,the coin bein subsequently discharged from the bucket upon the nextoperation of the machine into a tray or drawer positioned across thebase of the machine.

Carried by the hand lever 1 is a spindle 6 on which is mounted a coinreceiving pawl 7 and secured to the same spindle is a stop pawl 8 whichnormally contacts with a recess 9 formed in a stop piece 9 fixed to themiddle frame 2 (see Fig. 2). Thespindle 6 can traverse in the arc slot 2in the frame lever is fixedly connected by screws and the cross piece 1to two sliding bars 11 and 12 guided in the brackets 13 and 14. To thesliding bar 11 is pivoted two spring controlled downwardly dependingpawls 15, 16, which respectively gear with two oppositely disposedratchet segments, 17, 18, secured to the middle frame 2. The oppositelydisposed ratchet segments are for the known purpose of compelling acomplete forward and backward stroke of the hand lever to be made ateach operation of the machine.

Pivcted on the sliding bar 11 is a spring controlled pawl 19, andpivoted on the sliding bar 12 is another spring controlled pawloppositely disposed to the pawl 19, the pawls 19 and 20 gearrespectively with ratchet wheels 21, 22, on the spindle 23, the ratchetwheel 21 being mounted on a sleeve 21 loose on the spindle, whereas theratchet wheel 22 is fixed to the spindle. On the spindle 23 is secured afeed drum 24 having needle points 25 thereon around the pe-' riphery atdistances corresponding with the length of a stamp, the needles fittinginto the perforations between the stamps in the ordinary way. Alsomounted on the spindle 23 is a notched wheel 26 with which gears thebent free end of a leaf spring 27 to control and regulate the partialrevolutions of the spindle 23. The ratchet wheel 21 loosely mounted onthe spindle 23 is provided with a spring controlled non-return pawl 28pivoted at 28 to prevent the wheel 21 from moving in the reversedirection, and also mounted on the sleeve 21 is another ratchet wheel 21which is engaged at the end of each forward stroke of the lever 1 by anotched recess 1 formed in the lever, to prevent the gearing racing atthe end of the stroke.

Mounted on the sleeve 21 which carries the ratchet wheel 21 is a toothedpinion 29 gearing with a pinion 30 mounted on the spindle 31 in themiddle frame 2, the pinion 3O meshing with a small pinion 32 mounted ona spindle which is carried by the bracket 14. The pinion 30 also mesheswith a small pinion 34 mounted on a spindle 35 also carried by thebracket 14. spindle 33 is a crank disk 36 to which is pivoted theconnecting rod 37, the connecting rod being in turn pivoted to a slide38 moving vertically in a recess formed by the plates 14, the slide 38has an inclined slot 38 therein in which is disposed a pin 39 connectedto the upper end of the pivoted knife 40. The knife 40 is pivoted at 41to the bracket 14 and is operated upon the rotation of the crank disk 36as will be clearly seen by reference to the two positions of the knife40 shown in Fig. 5, the cutting edge 40 of the knife passing a fixedcutting edge 42 which forms the bottom line of the slot 43 through whichthe stamps are fed before passing under the aflixing block or pad.

Mounted on the spindle 35 is a crank disk 44 to which is pivotallyconnected the connecting rod 45 which in turn is pivoted at 46 to theaffixing block or pad 47 which slides vertically between the plates 48attached to the bracket 14. The afiixing block On the or pad ispreferably formed with an indiarubber or similar resilient lower surfaceand may also be provided with a spring controlled bottom plate whichwill allow of the block or pad adjusting itself to any irregularities inthe thickness or shape of theenvelop or the like to which the stampv isto be afiixed. Operating conjunctively with the aflixing block or pad 47is a lower or under pad or block 49 which works through an opening 50 inthe table 51. The block or pad 49 is also preferably formed with anindia rubber or other resilient upper surface and has a springcontrolled contact plate similar to the block or pad 47 to allow of thepad adjusting itself to any irregularities. The block or pad 49 iscontrolled by the rod 52 which is pivoted thereto at one end and at theother end is pivoted to a crank disk 53 mounted on a spindle 54 whichhas bearing in the middle frame 2 and the side frame 2 of the machine.The crank disk 53 is rotated by the cranked lever 55 which is pivoted atone end to the lever 1 and at the other end is pivoted to a crank 56fixedly connected to the spindle 54 so as to give a reciprocating motionto the crank disk 53 and consequently to the block or pad 49.

Mounted in a bracket 57 which slides in a groove 58 formed in the sideframe 2 is a spindle 59 on which is mounted the roll of, stamps 60. Thestamps are fed over a guide roller 61 mounted on a spindle 62 in theracket 57 and the stamps are maintained on the roller 61 by means of thewire spring 63 which is connected at one end to the bracket 57 by meansofthe screw and washer 64, the stamps being led from the roller 61around the drum 24 and through the slot 43, which is disposed below theknife 40, under the affixing block or pad 47. The stamps are maintainedon the drum 24 by means of the needle points 25 and a strip of springmetal 65 which is positioned partly around the drum 24 so as to leavesuflicient clearance for the needle points'25 and the stamps 60.

The moistening is effected from a tank 66 which is mounted in a troughshaped bracket 67 secured to the plates 48. The tank has an outlet pipe68 which is connected by a junction piece 69 to a pipe 70 leading into acylinder 71.

The cylinder 71 has needle point outlets 72 therein through which thewater is ejected on to the envelop or other missive, the water beingcontrolled by means of the piston 73. The piston 73 is connected to anarm 74 by means ofa screw 73 which works in a slot in the arm 74. Thearm 74 is pivoted by means of a screw or pin 75 to a bracket 76 which isaffixed to the plates 48. The free end of the arm 74 is formed as aspring pin 74* and is arranged in the path of a plate water from thetank into the cylinder 71.

from which it will be expelled through the outlets 72, the return strokeof the piston which is effected by the coil springs 74 attached at oneend to the arm 7 1 and at the other end to the cylinder 71 closing theoutlets.

Pivoted to the bottom of one of the plates 18 is a spring controlledhinge 77 which bears against one edge of the under surface of the stampso as to maintain it in its correct position.

'Mounted upon the slide 12 is a projecting portion 100 having a slopingupper surface adapted to engage a projecting piece 101 formed upon aplunger 102, whose lower end 103 is adapted to engage with slots 104 inthe wheel 105 mounted upon the shaft 23. The plunger 102 is guided in abracket 106 and is pressed downwardly by a spring 107 acting upon acollar 108. The plunger is raised by the action of the piece 101 as theslide 12 is advanced, and coming down again as it is returned itdefinitely fixes the rotation of the shaft 23 according to the spacingof the slots 10 1 which is so proportioned as to insure that the stamproll shall be fed to the exact length of one stamp.

For the purpose of counting the number of times the hand lever 1 isoperated and also the number of stamps issued by the machine, a threedisk counter 78 is provided of a known type. The counter is operated bymeans of a pin 79 on the lever 1 which on the forward stroke of the handlever contacts with a spring controlled two armed lever 80 pivoted at81. The upper end of the lever 80 is pivoted to a pawl 82 which engageswith a ratchet wheel 83 mounted on the spindle 8 1, also mounted on thespindle 8a is a toothed wheel 85 which gears with the toothed wheel 86connected with the unit disk of the counter.

For the purpose of closing the coin slot at the end of each roll ofstamps, for instance at the 500th. operation of the machine, two pins 87are connected to the hundreds disk of the counter in such manner thatupon revolution of the counter they will at periods of each 500operations of the machine contact with a spring controlled sliding bar88, one end of which is normally disposed under a pivoted shutter 89disposed above the inlet 10 of the coin chute. When one of the pins 87contacts with the sliding bar 88 it draws the bar from under the pivotedshutter 89 against the resistance of the spring 88 and allows theshutter to fall on the stop piece 90 formed on the underside of the coinchute 10 and thus prevents the insertion of any more coins until anotherroll of stamps has been inserted in the machine and the mechanism reset.

For th purpose of permitting of the affixing of more than one stamp toan envelop or other missive I provide an adjustable stop plate 91 whichis connected to a sliding bar 92 having a recess 92 therein in which isdisposed one end of a spring maintained catch 93, the catch 93 isconnected to a leaf spring 94 which is secured at one end to the frame2. The catch 93 is operated by means of a pivoted spring controlled arm95 having a roller 96 mounted at the lower end thereof. Assuming thesliding bar 92 together with the stop plate 91 to be in the positionseen in Fig. 4; that is maintained by the nose 93 of the catch 93, theroller 96 of the pivoted arm 95 will on the forward stroke of the lever1 and bar 12 ride over the rounded upper surface 93 of the catch 93,owing to th inclination of the arm 95 about its pivot. When the arm 95has passed the catch 93 it will resume its normal position under thecontrol of the spring 97 and on the return or backward operation of thelever l and sliding bar 12, that is after the stamp has been aflixed,the contact of the roller 96 with the catch 93'will force the catch 93downward in the direction shown by the arrows'Fig. 9 which movement ofthe catch will remove the nose 93 from the recess 92*, and the slidingbar 92 and stop plate 91 will move to the position indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 1 under the control of the coiled spring 98. The movementfrom the full line position to the dotted line position in Fig. irepresents the width ofa stamp so that it is thus possible to aflix twostamps side by side. The sliding bar 92 and stop plate 91 are returnedtothe position seen in full lines in Fig. 4 by pressing an extension ofthe sliding bar in the direction of the catch 93. The spring controlledmovement of the sliding bar and stop plate also shoot the envelop orother missive out of the machine after the stamp has been atlixedthereto.

The coin slot may be so proportioned as to refuse to admit any coin ordisk of greater dimensions than that to be employed, while coins ordisks of less diameter fall through between the edges of the slides 109forming the chute 10 and are returned to the pocket 110 along the lowerchutes 111 and 111*. The lower chute 111 may'have two parts or slides112 or other parts insulated from one another but adapted to be bridgedby a rejected coin, thus closing the circuit of the battery 113 and bell114 and giving notification of the rejection.

When used as a coin controlled machine, the normal operation is asfollows :Upon insertion of a coin in the chute 10 it falls on to thepawl 7 and upon pulling the hand lever l the stop catch 8 is raised topermit of the forward traverse of the hand lever and of the sliding bars11 and 12. 'lhe pawl 19 pivoted to the sliding bar 11 drives the ratchetwheel 21 and the toothed pinion 29 which is mounted on the same sleeve,forward a distance corresponding with that of a stamp. Ti'he partialrevolution of the pinion 29 correspondingly rotates the pinions 30, 32,and 3%, the revolution of the pinion 32 effecting one down and up strokeof the knife l0 to sever the stamp which was already in position underthe afiixing pad 7. The revolution of the pinion 3% has effected a downand up stroke of the aflixing block or pad 47 and at the same time thecranked arm .55 pivoted to the hand lever 1 has effected a reciprocationof the lower block or pad 4&9, the envelop or other missive beinggripped and squeezed between the two blocks or pads and thestampaffixed. The initial forward movement of the sliding bars effects acontact of the plate 12 of the bar 12 with the spring end 7+? of thepivoted arm 7% connected to the piston 73, which movement of the pistonallows water to be ejected through the outlets 72 of the cylinder 71before the afiixing pad 47 descends sufiiciently to press the severedstamp on to the envelop or the like. Immediately the plate 12 has passedthe end of the pivoted lever 74:, the pivoted lever under the influenceof the coil spring 74- returns to its normal position and closes theoutlets from the cylinder. The stop 79 on the hand lever 1 contacts withthe two armed lever 80 operating the counter on the forward move ment ofthe lever as will be readily understood, and counts one for eachoperation of the lever. Upon the return or backward movement of the handlever, the pawl 20 pivoted on the sliding bar 12 rotates the ratchetwheel 22 which is fixed to the spindle 23 in a backward direction for adistance equivalent to the length of a stamp, which rotation is impartedto the drum 24:, thus feeding another stamp through the slot 43 inposition to be severed and affixed at the next operation of the machine.As eX- plained the distance of feed is strictly regulated by the plunger102.

The stamp afiixing mechanism can be used without the addition of thecoin operating mechanism when desired without altering the mechanism ofthe stamp delivering and affixing machine, and I may employ other coinoperating mechanism of known form.

W hat I claim is 1. in a stamp delivering and affixing machine thecombination of mechanism for ejecting moisture upon the article to bestamped; mechanism for severing a stamp from a roll of stamps; mechanismadapted to press said stamp upon said article; a spring pressed plunger;a wheel provided with slots in which said plunger is adapted to engage;a drum adapted to feed the stamps forward from the roll; a shaftcarrying said wheel and said drum; a member operatively connected to allsaid mechanism and adapted to operate them in the course of a forwardand return stroke; and a cammcmber adapted to raise said plunger at thebe inning of the forward stroke and to permit it to be lowered at theend of the return stroke in such manner that it engages in successiveslots in said wheel.

2. In a stamp delivering and affixing machine the combination ofmechanism for ejecting moisture upon the article to be stamped;mechanism for severing a stamp from a roll of stamps; an upper pressurepad adapted to contact with the top surface of the article to bestamped; a lower pressure pad adapted to contact with the lower surfaceof said article; mechanism for reciprocating said pads; mechanism forfeeding another stamp from the roll into positic-n in readiness for thesubsequent operation ofthe machine; a spring pressed plunger; a wheelprovided with slots in which said plunger is adapted to engage; a drumadapted to feed the stamps forward from.

the roll; a shaft carrying said wheel and said drum; a memberoperatively connected to all said mechanism and adapted to operate themin the course of a forward and return stroke; and a cam-member adaptedto raise said plunger at the beginning of the forward stroke and topermit it to be lowered at the end of the return stroke in such mannerthat it engages in successive slots in said wheel.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two. subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK JOHN GILL. Witnesses HAROLD J. O. Fonnns'rnn, ARNOLD S.ILLsroN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

